SRINAGAR: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said that 94 militants including top commanders have been killed so far.
The IGP was speaking to media soon after Shopian encounter ended in which three militants were killed in a gunfight with armed forces at Turakwangam area of the district on Tuesday.
He said that on a specific input regarding presence of militants, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Shopian Police, 44 RR and 178 Bn CRPF in village Turkwagam of district Shopian.
“During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter,” he said.
“In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identification and affiliation of the slain is being ascertained,” he added.
He said that incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes.
“Case FIR No. 65/2020 under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Zainapora and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” said Kashmir police chief.
While addressing a joint press conference, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that, “it was due to an excellent and swift action by Police, Army and CRPF, the joint operation was carried out in a professional manner with no collateral damage. During the current year, 94 militants including top commanders have been killed so far. Pertinently 24 militants were killed in the past two weeks mostly in district Shopian. The dead bodies of slain militants have been sent to Baramulla for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities including a collection of their DNA.”
He further said that “in case any family claims the slain militants to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for the identification and participation in last rites at Baramulla.”
